-0.0014(-0.2395%)

+9.70(+0.16%)

+5.10(+0.08%)

+0.20(+0.35%)

+12.30(+0.99%)

+11.01(+0.17%)

David Jones lifts first quarter sales

David Jones' first quarter sales rose by 0.3 per cent and the retailer says second quarter sales are so far following a similar trend.

The department store said sales totalled $415.6 million in the three months from July 29 to October 27, up from $414.3 million in the previous corresponding period.

Like-for-like sales were the same as total sales as there were no store openings or closures in the relevant periods.

"Whilst it is still early days, it is pleasing to see the company return to positive sales growth following seven quarters of declining sales," chief executive Paul Zahra said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Trading in the first couple of weeks of the second quarter is tracking broadly in line with (the first quarter)."

Home and electrical product sales continued to struggle, but there was improvement in sales of womenswear, menswear, beauty, accessories and shoes during the first quarter, Mr Zahra said.

Sales grew in Western Australia, NSW and Victoria, but refurbishments at David Jones' Toowong store in Brisbane impacted Queensland sales, the company said.

Customers had embraced David Jones' new online store, which was "well-positioned to capitalise on Christmas and the Boxing Day clearance periods", it said.

David Jones' first quarter sales growth was smaller than Myer's in the same period.

Myer's total sales in the 13 weeks to October 27 were $688 million, up one per cent on the same period last year.